Quentin Griffin of Port Charlotte poses with his silver medal after finishing second in the 154-pound weight class at the FHSAA Boys State Weightlifting Finals on Friday at the Kissimmee Civic Center. STAFF PHOTO / DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI

“I knew the Spruce Creek guy was coming out pretty heavy. He was 625 total at sectionals,” Griffin said of Luis Verdiales.

That was before Griffin hyperextended his right wrist during Monday’s workouts.

The injury did not derail him from reaching his goal.

Griffin finished runner-up to Verdiales in the 154-pound weight class Friday at the Class 2A FHSAA State Finals at the Kissimmee Civic Center.

The only other area lifter to reach the awards stand was Charlotte’s Clyde Newton, who finished third in the 219-pound weight class.

Benching 320 pounds and lifting 260 in the clean and jerk, Griffin finished behind Verdiales’s 635 total and well ahead of the 545 total by third-place finisher Kody McDow of Citrus.

“I felt like I could have gotten a lot more on bench and on the clean. It held me back on everything,” Griffin said of his injury.

His 580 matched his best total set at the sectional meet two weeks ago. His 260 in the clean and jerk was a personal best.

It was his first appearance at the state meet and all the bright lights and hoopla did not affect him.

“I thought it would, but it didn’t,” Griffin said.

After lifting for Charlotte as a sophomore, he transferred across the river midway through his junior year. Griffin played spring football at Port Charlotte, but settled on lacrosse.

He plans to attend a military high school and go on to a military college.

Newton was a second or two from finishing second in the 219-pound weight class.

Instead the senior settled for third.

Charlotte's Clyde Newton receives his medal for finishing third in the 219-pound weight class at the FHSAA Boys State Weightlifting Finals on Friday at the Kissimmee Civic Center. STAFF PHOTO / DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI

Newton benched 385 and lifted 295 in the clean and jerk, good for bronze.

“It’s disappointing,” he said. “I’m just taking it as more motivation in going forward. Just going. Keep going forward.”

Attempting 340 pounds in his final attempt in the clean and jerk, Newton lifted the weight, but could not maintain or sustain it over his head.

“I broke at the end when it counted,” he said. “It’s hard. I’ll get past it.”

Had he been successful, Newton would have tied Matt Roos of Spruce Creek (Port Orange) for second place with a combined 715. Newton would have received the nod based on less body weight.

Instead, he got third.

“You’ve got to bring your ‘A’ game,” Newton said.

It was his final act in a Charlotte uniform.

Newton will train “every day” in Punta Gorda until departing June 2 for Bloomington, Ind., to join the Indiana University football team.

“I’m going to report ready with weight and speed and all that,” said the 6-foot-1, 212-pounder who will play linebacker. “I like my size now. I’m going to put some weight on and work on my speed. Keep my speed up.”

Cory Lieb of Charlotte finished one spot from reaching the medal stand, taking seventh in 119.

Sarasota’s Tobias Baker was eighth in 238.

Spruce Creek dethroned Charlotte as the 2A team champion with 28 points, 16 more than Lyman (Longwood).